People

The creation of the first permanent French settlement in North America was made possible by the extraordinary efforts of a brave band of explorers. Highly energetic and enterprising, these individuals were integral in carving out the foundation of future European expansion into Canada; one that integrated a philosophy of tolerance and cooperation toward native people. While the contributions made by each of the individuals in this section vary, they would not have been possible without the collective vision of men like Pierre Dugua, Sieur de Mons and Samuel de Champlain, who were determined to create a more enlightened world than the one they left behind.